Quote:
Originally Posted by _Q_
I'd say so... 9 games is more than 10% of the schedule. That's about as good of a sample size as you can get while still considering it a "sample size" rather than "portion of a season".
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I think it's key to realize that it's the
first 10% of the schedule. While I've never played in the NHL myself it seems to me that the, for example, last 10% of the games are much, much more difficult than the first 10%. You've had the offseason to train and prepare, heal up any injuries, and mentally the excitement of being a rookie is there. The physical and mental toll, not to mention the strain that playing on a (likely) non-playoff team takes leads me to believe it's not a great sample size.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattyC
Burning their ELC's is not what ruined the prospects for Oilers (although it hasn't/won't help their cap situation). What has been hurting the Oilers is slotting their kids into top line minutes as teenagers whether they were ready or not (talent wise or physcially).
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Another good point, but Monahan has averaged 20 minutes a night in the last two games and on a team that is sorely lacking offense the expectations for him are starting to rise. It's one thing to come in with no pressure and score 6 goals, and it's completely another when a team that is lacking offensive power to rely on you, which I'd suggest compares to the Oilers.
Physically he has seemed larger and more prepared than some of the smaller Oilers prospects, but he's only going to get focused on more as the year progresses. Nothing wrong with another year in Junior to peak.
What are the negatives to sending him down? He's going to dominate in junior, and have a chance to perfect his game. When have you heard of a player that gets sent down and stops caring because it's "too easy"?